Search

show me:

Demons upset injury-hit Dockers in AFL

3 minute read

Fremantle have lost Jesse Hogan and Stephen Hill to injury against Melbourne in a 14-point AFL upset at the MCG.

MICHAEL WALTERS of the Dockers kicks the ball into the forward line during the AFL match between the Fremantle Dockers and the St Kilda Saints at Domain Stadium in Perth, Australia.
MICHAEL WALTERS of the Dockers kicks the ball into the forward line during the AFL match between the Fremantle Dockers and the St Kilda Saints at Domain Stadium in Perth, Australia. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Fremantle are confident star recruit Jesse Hogan has not suffered a recurrence of his serious foot injury in their upset AFL loss to Melbourne.

The Dockers suffered multiple hits on Saturday to their growing finals hopes, with Stephen Hill also injuring a hamstring in the upset 14-point loss at the MCG.

Michael Walters is another concern after being reported for headbutting Demons opponent Jay Lockhart.

And Harley Bennell's wretched run continued when he sustained a lower right leg injury on Saturday in the WAFL.

Bennell was on crutches after the first-quarter incident, with scans to assess the extent of the damage.

The former Sun had been playing his fourth-straight WAFL game, but his hopes of an AFL recall will be put on ice again.

Dockers coach Ross Lyon was upbeat after the loss to Melbourne that the injuries to Hogan and Hill were not serious.

While disappointed they lost, Lyon also noted Fremantle had enjoyed a solid season so far.

This was Hogan's first game against his old club and his opponent was Stephen May, who came to Melbourne after the Demons traded Hogan to the Dockers.

Hogan did not survive the first quarter.

Lyon said club doctors reported Hogan's injury was not in the navicular bone area - the problem that sidelined him late last season.

Navicular injuries are among the most feared in the AFL, given how long they can take to heal and their capacity to end careers.

"I'm concerned ... Jesse was really concerned as well,' Lyon said.

"It was always going to be a tough day playing your old club ... in particular, a player where you have been since you were 16 or 17.

"So it didn't pan out well, but it is done and dusted now."

Down to two fit players on the bench, Fremantle clearly ran out of gas and Melbourne sealed their fourth win of the season with four goals to one in the last quarter.

Walters was reported for an incident with Lockhart late in the third term.

Demons co-captain Nathan Jones pushed over Walters and that ended up costing a Melbourne a goal.

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin was pleased Jones' teammates let him know about it at three-quarter time and that the Demons did so well to achieve the win.

They have come out of their mid-season break with a reorganised coaching staff and a determination to gain something from a disastrous season so far.

"It wasn't perfect today, but they hung in there and, in the end, I thought we just wore them down, especially around the footy," Goodwin said.

"It was just a good team effort."

Max Gawn and Jack Viney starred, while Tom McDonald returned to form with three goals and key defender Sam Frost also had a great game, despite his sketchy disposal.

Captain Nat Fyfe, Walters, Bradley Hill and Luke Ryan were best for the Dockers.

Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au